Biblical Prophecies of Iraq [part 2]

Prophecies of Iraq (Babylon) From Isaiah and Jeremiah . . .

Isaiah 13:1-22 . . . The Burden Against Babylon (Iraq)

This prophecy was written by the prophet Isaiah around 700 BC, over 2,700 years ago. A complete scroll of the book of Isaiah was found among the Dead Sea Scrolls (over 2,100 years old) and is now on full public display in its entirety (including these passages), in a glass case in Israel, for all to see. Also, for those of you who may have any doubts about Babylon (ancient name) and Iraq (modern name) being synonymous, simply go to Babylon News, the official web news-site of Iraq, which is currently run (now was run) by Saddam Hussein's son, Uday Hussein . . .

Although Babylon (southern Iraq) was conquered by the Medes and the Persians in ancient times, it was conquered in such a way it was never destroyed ... in fact, in the past the great city of Babylon was spared (and used ) by its conquerors, including both Persia and Greece. Today, Saddam Hussein (and now others since Saddam Hussein was toppled and executed) have spent hundreds of millions of dollars restoring the ancient city of Babylon, including the palace where the prophet Daniel served and interpreted the "handwriting on the wall" the night before the Persians conquered the city (by sneaking in quietly under the river gates.)

So, the total destruction of Iraq (Babylon) as clearly prophesied in the Bible . . . is still future!

This prophecy against Iraq is fascinating ... and timely. Scoffers and skeptics should take note, for God says He uses prophecy to prove He is who He says He is. The details in this series of prophecies are both remarkable . . . and hard to ignore. (As you might notice, I wrote much of this Bible Prophecy study before the fall of Saddam Hussein ... which shows this Bible prophecy is now clearly "in process" and on schedule.)

What does God say concerning "The burden against Babylon (Iraq)?"

God first sends a warning to Iraq . . .

"The burden of Babylon (Iraq),

which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see (meaning this is prophetic)
Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain,

exalt the voice unto them,

shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles. (Warn them judgment is coming)
I have commanded my sanctified ones,

(Sanctified means 'set aside,' much like the word 'holy'... it is where we get the word 'saint.')

I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, (this will be no mere skirmish)

even them that rejoice in my highness." (God is calling those who still believe in Him in faith ...)

(Isaiah 13:1-3)

God warned He would one-day gather MANY nations against Iraq (Gulf War I + II?) . . .

"The noise of a multitude in the mountains,

like as of a great people;

a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together:

the LORD of Armies (hosts) musters the armies (host) of the battle."
(Isaiah 13:4) (God was in control ...)

Study your history books (and Bible) ... ancient Babylon was conquered by just TWO nations (the Medes-Persians led by Cyrus the Persian) ... without firing a shot! Now, study (and watch the news videos) of the Iraq (Gulf) War I & II ... the combined "coalition" of nations surrounding and invading Iraq was massive!

The armies will come from "a far country"... "the end of heaven" . . .

"They come from a FAR country,

from the end of heaven, (the US is almost on the opposite side of the globe from Iraq)

even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation,

to destroy the whole land."

(Isaiah 13:5)

Look at a globe ... and look where the US is compared to Iraq (Babylon) ... then study your history books.

It will be a judgment by God against Iraq (Babylon) . . .

"Howl ye;

for the Day of the LORD is at hand; (the coming "Apocalypse")

it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty."

(Isaiah 13:6) (He links Iraq to the coming "Apocalypse" and Armageddon ...)

Fear would grip the Iraqi soldiers and armies . . .

"Therefore shall all hands be faint,

and every man's heart shall melt:
And they shall be afraid:

pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them;

they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth:

they shall be amazed one at another;

their faces shall be as flames."

(Isaiah 13:7-8) (Watch the videos of the Iraqi soldiers trying to surrender during Iraq-Gulf War I ...)

The Persians took Babylon without a major battle ... they diverted (and lowered) the river ... and then snuck in at night to capture the Palace ... the Babylonian army didn't know they had been conquered until after it was all over.

The Bible warns there is still MUCH to come in Iraq (Babylon) . . .

The judgment against Iraq is shown as a pre-cursor to the coming Apocalypse and Armageddon. The 'Day of the Lord' is used of the times leading to Armageddon . . . apparently this coming destruction of Iraq will somehow be linked to the "Apocalypse" and Armageddon when God will judge ALL the nations and people of the world . . .

"Behold, the Day of the LORD cometh, (the coming "Apocalypse")

cruel both with wrath and fierce anger,

to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light:

the sun shall be darkened in his going forth,

and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
And I (God) will punish the world for their evil,

and the wicked for their iniquity;

and I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease,

(this means all nations and people)

and will lay low the arrogance (haughtiness) of the terrible.
I will make a man more precious than fine gold; (survivors will be rare ...)

even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.
Therefore I (God) will shake the heavens,

and the Earth shall remove out of her place,

in the wrath of the LORD of Armies (hosts),

and in the Day of His fierce anger." (another term used in the Bible for the coming "Apocalypse"

(Isaiah 13:9-13)

God will stir up the Kurds (the ancient Medes) who now live in Northern Iraq (and Iran, and Turkey.) It is interesting that it was the Medes (the Kurds in northern Iraq) who Saddam Hussein used chemical weapons on and killed an estimated 50,000. The Kurds will have no compassion on the men, women, or children, of Southern Iraq and will not be interested or swayed by money, silver, or gold to stop their deadly march and slaughter . . .

"Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them,

which shall not regard silver;

and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.
Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces;

and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb;

their eye shall not spare children."

(Isaiah 13:17-18)

Southern Iraq (Babylon) will one day be utterly destroyed in such a way (nuclear, chemical, or biological?) that it will never, ever, be inhabited by man again . . .

"And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms,

the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency,

shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
It shall NEVER be inhabited,

neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation"

(Isaiah 13:19-22) (This judgment still lies in the future ... )

MORE PROPHECIES ... (From the Book of Jeremiah )

Jeremiah 51:1-64 . . . Iraq (Babylon) will become "a heap of rubble"

Prophecies Against Babylon (southern Iraq) . . .

God would raise up "foreigners" from every side to rise against Iraq . . .

(Again - Study and watch old news reports of Gulf-Iraq Wars I & II)

"This is what the LORD says:

'I will stir up a destroyer against Babylon and the people of Babylonia.

Foreigners will come and winnow her,

blowing her away as chaff.

They will come from every side

to rise against her in her day of trouble.'"

(Jeremiah 51:1-2)

God's judgment against Iraq (Babylon) is not yet complete ... Iraq (Babylon) will once again become a powerful enemy against Israel ... and God explains He will do this because He has NOT forsaken Israel (even though their sin was great) . . .

^"Don't let the archers put on their armor or draw their bows.

No one will be spared!

Young and old alike will be completely destroyed.

They will fall dead in the land of the Babylonians, slashed to death in her streets.

For the LORD Almighty has not forsaken Israel and Judah.

He is still their God,

even though their land was filled with sin

against the Holy One (Messiah) of Israel." (Rejection of their Messiah ...)

(Jeremiah 51:3-5)

God is calling on all who will hear His voice to flee from Iraq . . .

^"Flee from Babylon! Save yourselves!

Don't get trapped in her punishment!

It is the LORD's time for vengeance;

He will fully repay her."

(Jeremiah 51:6)

"And I heard another voice from Heaven saying,

"Come out of her, My people,

lest you share in her sins,

and lest you receive of her plagues.

For her sins have reached to Heaven,

and God has remembered her iniquities."

(Revelation 18:4)

God will destroy all who desecrated His Temple in Jerusalem . . .

"This is His vengeance against those

who desecrated His Temple. (This will happen again ...at the time of the coming Antichrist!)

Raise the battle flag against Babylon!

Reinforce the guard and station the watchmen.

Prepare an ambush,

for the LORD will fulfill all his plans against Babylon."

(Jeremiah 51:12-14)

Iraq will NEVER be inhabited again after God's judgment is completed against her . . .

"The LORD says to Jerusalem,

'I will be your lawyer to plead your case, and I will avenge you.

I will dry up her river, her water supply,

and Babylon will become a heap of rubble,

haunted by jackals.

It will be an object of horror and contempt,

without a single person living there."

(Jeremiah 51:36-37)

This portion may project out even further (see "Mystery Babylon" in Revelation 17:1 - 18) to the final judgment and destruction of all the nations and people of the world who have turned their backs on God and rejected the offer of Jesus (Yeshua) of shelter and protection (see the "The Rapture" ... "The Coming Apocalypse" . . . and "Messiah's Return." )

"In their drunken feasts, the people of Babylon roar like lions.

And while they lie inflamed with all their wine, I will prepare a different kind of feast for them.

I will make them drink until they fall asleep, never again to waken," says the LORD.

"I will bring them like lambs to the slaughter, like rams and goats to be sacrificed.

"How Babylon is fallen--great Babylon, praised throughout the Earth!

The world can scarcely believe its eyes at her fall!

The sea has risen over Babylon; she is covered by its waves.

Her cities now lie in ruins; she is a dry wilderness where no one lives or even passes by.

And I will punish Bel, the god of Babylon, and pull from his mouth what he has taken.

The nations will no longer come and worship him.

The wall of Babylon has fallen." (This never happened at the time of the Persian conquest ...)

(Jeremiah 51:38-44)